Matt Drayer's Journal

I remember pulling the transmission out of the car back in November. I didn't have a good understanding of the drivetrain assembly and I had removed all of the bell housing bolts connecting it to the rear engine plate. The engine came out easily enough, and there was the transmission, still sitting in the car. Now how was I going to get THAT out?

After doing some research I realized there were four bolts to remove and then the tranny would be free to leave the vehicle. A bit of searching and swearing later, the bolts were out and so was the transmission, which amazingly was small enough and light enough that I could lift and carry it on my own (I'm used to tanks, I mean Jeeps).

The transmission was a mess, similarly coated in filth, looking like a tired, hopeless lump of mixed metals. I brought it into the workshop and began cleaning it up. Hey, look at that, it's really just dirty. No major external damage.

As the distinct smell of old stale gearbox oil wafted upstairs from the basement ("Babe, do you smell something funny?" "Um, no? What do you mean?" I lifted the gearbox cover and peered inside, expecting the worst. Wow, not that bad! Reverse has a couple chewed teeth, but only a couple, and the rest of the gears actually look pretty excellent. I'll clean this up and get on with things.

Of course, then "things" got on and our cleaned-up gearbox sat in the corner of the workshop. For five months. Every time I walked into the workshop I'd see it over there in the corner, neglected, waiting to be addressed, quietly judging me.

Finally, after getting LOTS of other project things done, gravity pulled me back to this component and it was time to complete the job. A fresh coat of paint and WOW, what a SWAN! Could it even be the same oily, dirty beast that I dragged in here almost half a year ago?

But wait, where is the reverse gear spline locating pin? It has to be somewhere... [fast forward seven hours + entire cleanout of workshop + garage] ...it's nowhere. I've lost it. I can't believe I've lost it. No, this is impossible. I've bagged and tagged every single little piece on this project. Every nut, every bolt, every rusty cotter pin. I've saved *everything*. It must be somewhere... [goes through all parts bags again]...it's nowhere... Maybe I never had it? Maybe that's why those couple reverse gear teeth are chewed? There's no explanation, it's just...gone.

To Moss Motors. They don't have it. To BPNW. No. eBay? Nope. Rimmer Bros??? YES!!! And it's only a few bucks...um, plus $24 shipping??? SRSLY. Maybe someone on the forum has an extra, or can help me to fabricate one. I'll post a thread. Wow, so much help from everyone, and especially @Steve-in-Florida, who just happened to have an extra reverse gear spline locating pin to contribute to our project -- thank you!!!

With the replacement RGSLP installed the gearbox was complete and ready to be reattached to the engine. Time to bring it back upstairs and out to the garage! Maybe there's light at the end of this transmission tunnel after all...

<br/>Marblehead MG - Episode 25 - Gearbox Prep